Absorbers in the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics

DOI10.1007/S10701-012-9695-ZMaRDI QIDQ2391955zbMATH OpenOpenAlexFDO

Authors Jean-Sébastien Boisvert, Louis Marchildon

Publication date 6 August 2013

Published in Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1207.5230

zbMATH Keywords

quantum mechanicstransactional interpretationabsorbersblock-universequantum liar

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Relativistic cosmology (83F05)

Abstract: The transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics, following the time-symmetric formulation of electrodynamics, uses retarded and advanced solutions of the Schrodinger equation and its complex conjugate to understand quantum phenomena by means of transactions. A transaction occurs between an emitter and a specific absorber when the emitter has received advanced waves from all possible absorbers. Advanced causation always raises the specter of paradoxes, and it must be addressed carefully. In particular, different devices involving contingent absorbers or various types of interaction-free measurements have been proposed as threatening the original version of the transactional interpretation. These proposals will be analyzed by examining in each case the configuration of absorbers and, in the special case of the so-called quantum liar experiment, by carefully following the development of retarded and advanced waves through the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. We will show that there is no need to resort to the hierarchy of transactions that some have proposed, and will argue that the transactional interpretation is consistent with the block-universe picture of time.

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Cited in

(6)

• On delayed choice and contingent absorber experiments
• Maudlin's challenge refuted: A reply to Lewis
• The possibilist transactional interpretation and relativity
• Retrocausal quantum mechanics: Maudlin's challenge revisited
• A delayed choice quantum eraser explained by the transactional interpretation of quantum mechanics
• The quantum liar experiment in Cramer's transactional interpretation

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